FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
“INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS,INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM”
SONY CORPORATION, of 1-7-1, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
108-0075, Japan
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in
which it is to be performed.
2
DESCRIPTION
INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM
5 TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present technology relates to an information
processing apparatus, an information processing method,
and a program and, more particularly, to an information
10 processing apparatus, an information processing method,
and a program detecting information relating to a
literary work inside an electronic document, presenting
the detected information to a user, and presenting
additional information of the literary work.
15
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
Instead of conventional paper-medium books, in
recent years, books called electronic books that can be
20 read on displays of electronic apparatuses are widely
used. In such electronic books, services that cannot be
provided for paper-medium books can be provided. For
example, there are books that provide video or sounds.
[0003]
25 In Patent Document 1, it has been proposed to
present a user with unique content or information
relating to a book through a network. In addition, in
Patent Documents 2 and 3, it has been proposed to edit a
link inside an electronic book.
30
CITATION LIST
3
PATENT DOCUMENT
[0004]
Patent Document 1: JP 2009-015647 A
Patent Document 2: JP 2010-086151 A
Patent Document 3: 5 JP 2000-181931 A
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0005]
10 As described above, electronic books can provide
services that cannot be provided by paper-medium books
and the like, and accordingly, improvements in the
quality of services and the like are desirable.
[0006]
15 The present technology is contrived in
consideration of such situations and is capable of
detecting information of a literary work written in an
electronic document and providing additional information
other than the information for a user.
20
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS
[0007]
An information processing apparatus according to
one aspect of the present technology includes: a storing
25 unit that stores information of an electronic document;
an extraction unit that extracts a sentence including the
information stored in the storing unit from a
predetermined electronic document; and a generation unit
that generates a link to the information stored in the
30 storing unit from the sentence extracted by the
extraction unit.
4
[0008]
The storing unit may include a first storing unit
in which the information of the electronic document
stored in the same terminal is stored and a second
storing unit in which the information 5 of the electronic
document stored in the other terminal is stored, and the
extraction unit may extract a sentence including the
information stored in the first storing unit from a
predetermined electronic document and extracts a sentence
10 including the information stored in the second storing
unit from a predetermined electronic document.
[0009]
The electronic document may be acquired by
digitizing a document that is printed on a paper medium.
15 [0010]
The extraction unit may calculate a first degree of
similarity between a predetermined sentence included
inside the electronic document and the information stored
in the storing unit, calculate a second degree of
20 similarity between a sentence acquired by combining the
predetermined sentence and a sentence next to the
predetermined sentence and the information stored in the
storing unit, repeatedly perform the combining of
sentences and the calculating of the degree of similarity
25 until the second degree of similarity is determined to be
higher than the first degree of similarity, and set the
sentence before the combination as an extraction result
when the second degree of similarity is determined to be
lower than the first degree of similarity.
30 [0011]
The extraction unit may further extract a number
5
making reference to the extracted sentence from the
predetermined electronic document, and the generation
unit may give the link generated for the sentence that is
referred to by the number to the number extracted by the
5 extraction unit.
[0012]
An update process may be performed by extracting a
sentence including updated information from the
predetermined electronic document in a case where storing
10 unit is updated.
[0013]
An information processing method according to one
aspect of the present technology uses an information
processing apparatus equipped with a storing unit that
15 stores information of an electronic document, the
information processing method including: extracting a
sentence including the information stored in the storing
unit from a predetermined electronic document; and
generating a link to the information stored in the
20 storing unit from the extracted sentence.
[0014]
A computer-readable program according to one aspect
of the present technology causes a computer that controls
an information processing apparatus equipped with a
25 storing unit storing information of an electronic
document to perform: extracting a sentence including the
information stored in the storing unit from a
predetermined electronic document; and generating a link
to the information stored in the storing unit from the
30 extracted sentence.
[0015]
6
In the information processing apparatus, the
information processing method, and the program according
to an aspect of the present technology, the information
of an electronic document is stored, and a sentence
including the stored information is 5 extracted from a
predetermined electronic document. In a case where a
sentence is extracted from the electronic document, the
sentence, information included in the sentence, and the
information stored in the storing unit can be associated
10 with each other. The associating of the sentence and the
information with each other is performed by establishing
a link accessing to the information from the sentence.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
15 [0016]
According to an aspect of the present technology,
information of a literary work written in an electronic
document can be detected. In addition, additional
information other than the detected information can be
20 provided for a user, and the quality and the usability of
services relating to an electronic document can be
improved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
25 [0017]
Fig. 1 is a diagram that illustrates the
configuration of an embodiment of a system according to
the present technology.
Fig. 2 is a diagram that illustrates an example of
30 a document.
Fig. 3 is a diagram that illustrates an example of
7
data included in a literary work database.
Fig. 4 is a diagram that illustrates a screen
transition that is based on a link generated inside an
electronic document.
Fig. 5 is a diagram that illustrates 5 a screen
transition that is based on a link generated inside an
electronic document.
Fig. 6 is a diagram that illustrates a screen
transition that is based on a link generated inside an
10 electronic document.
Fig. 7 is a diagram that illustrates a screen
transition that is based on a link generated inside an
electronic document.
Fig. 8 is a flowchart that illustrates a process
15 for generating a link inside an electronic document.
Fig. 9 is an example of data in a case where a link
is embedded in data of an electronic document.
Fig. 10 is an example of data in a case where a
link is embedded in data of an electronic document.
20 Fig. 11 is a flowchart that illustrates a literary
work searching process.
Fig. 12 is a flowchart that illustrates a process
performed when an electronic document is displayed.
Fig. 13 is a flowchart that illustrates a process
25 performed when a link is selected.
Fig. 14 is a diagram that illustrates a reference
number.
Fig. 15 is a diagram that illustrates a screen
transition that is based on a link generated inside an
30 electronic document.
Fig. 16 is an example of data in a case where a
8
link is embedded in data of an electronic document.
Fig. 17 is a flowchart that illustrates an intradocument
link detecting process.
Fig. 18 is a flowchart that illustrates an update
5 process.
Fig. 19 is a flowchart that illustrates an update
process.
Fig. 20 is a flowchart that illustrates a recording
medium.
10
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0018]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present technology
will be described with reference to the drawings.
15 [0019]
[Configuration of System According to Present
Technology]
Fig. 1 is a diagram that illustrates the
configuration of an embodiment of a system according to
20 the present technology. The system illustrated in Fig. 1
is configured to include: a network 11; a server 21; an
electronic document reading terminal 31; an information
terminal 41; and a scanner 51. The server 21, the
electronic document reading terminal 31, and the
25 information terminal 41 are connected to the network 11
so as to configure to transmit and receive data. The
scanner 51 is connected to the information terminal 41,
and data read by the scanner 51 is configured to be
supplied to the information terminal 41.
30 [0020]
The server 21 is equipped with a literary work
9
database 22 and a customer database 23. The server 21
may be configured by a personal computer or the like.
The literary work database 22, which will be described in
detail later, is a database that is used for managing
information relating to a literary work 5 such as the title
of the work, the author name, and the publication company
that are information used for uniquely specifying a
predetermined literary work.
[0021]
10 The customer database 23 is arranged for a case
where a purchase is necessary when data managed by the
literary work database 22 is read or the like and is a
database that is used for managing information used for
specifying a person.
15 [0022]
The electronic document reading terminal 31 is
equipped with a literary work database 32 and an
electronic document storing unit 33. The electronic
document reading terminal 31 is a terminal capable of
20 reading an electronic document. The electronic document
reading terminal 31 may be a terminal dedicated for
reading an electronic document or a terminal such as a
cellular phone. The literary work database 32 included
in the electronic document reading terminal 31 basically
25 has the same configuration as that of the literary work
database 22 included in the server 21. The electronic
document storing unit 33 stores an electronic document.
In this electronic document storing unit 33, an
electronic book (electronic document) that is purchased
30 from another device such as the server 21 through the
network 11, a document that is captured by the scanner 51,
10
or the like is stored.
[0023]
The literary work database 32 included in the
electronic document reading terminal 31 manages data
relating to an electronic document that 5 is stored in the
electronic document reading terminal 31. While the
literary work database 22 of the server 21 and the
literary work database 32 of the electronic document
reading terminal 31 have the same data structure,
10 contents of data stored therein are different from each
other.
[0024]
The information terminal 41 is equipped with a
literary work database 42 and an electronic document
15 storing unit 43. The information terminal 41 is
configured by a personal computer or the like. The
literary work database 42 included in the information
terminal 41 basically has the same configuration as that
of the literary work database 22 included in the server
20 21. The electronic document storing unit 43 stores an
electronic document. In this electronic document storing
unit 43, an electronic book that is purchased from
another device such as the server 21 through the network
11, a document that is captured by the scanner 51, or the
25 like is stored. Here, the description will be continued
with a document 61 captured by the scanner 51 being
assumed to be stored in the electronic document storing
unit 43 as an electronic document.
[0025]
30 The literary work database 42 included in the
information terminal 41 manages data relating to an
11
electronic document that is stored in the information
terminal 41. While the literary work database 22 of the
server 21 and the literary work database 42 of the
information terminal 41 have the same data structure,
contents of data stored therein are different 5 from each
other.
[0026]
By the system illustrated in Fig. 1, the image of
the document 61 is captured by the scanner 51, and the
10 captured data is supplied to the information terminal 41
connected thereto. The information terminal 41 generates
an electronic document that is acquired by digitizing the
document 61 based on the image captured by the scanner 51.
In addition, the information terminal 41 can acquire
15 written character information from the image of the
document 61 using a technology of optical character
recognition (OCR) or the like and generate an electronic
document including the character information.
[0027]
20 When being connected to the electronic document
reading terminal 31 through a USB or the like or through
the network 11, the information terminal 41 copies or
moves the electronic document stored in the electronic
document storing unit 43 to the electronic document
25 storing unit 33 of the electronic document reading
terminal 31. In the electronic document storing unit 33
of the electronic document reading terminal 31, the
electronic document acquired in this way is stored.
[0028]
30 The information terminal 41 is configured to be
able to acquire not only the document 61 but also music
12
data acquired from a compact disc (CD) or the like, store
the data, and supply the stored data to the electronic
document reading terminal 31. The information of
literary works such as the electronic document and the
music data transmitted to the electronic 5 document reading
terminal 31 is managed by each of the literary work
database 32 of the electronic document reading terminal
31 and the literary work database 42 of the information
terminal 41. As will be described later, based on the
10 information stored in this literary work database 32 (the
literary work database 42), for example, the title of a
literary work written in the electronic document is
linked, and new information is acquired from the link
destination thereof.
15 [0029]
In addition, the electronic document reading
terminal 31 has a function of being connected to the
network 11 and can acquire and read a literary work
managed by another device on the network 11 by being
20 connected to the literary work database 22 inside the
server 21 that is disposed on the network 11. In a case
where a purchase is necessary for reading a literary work
stored in the literary work database 22, the customer
database 23 may be managed inside the server 21 so as to
25 perform an accounting process.
[0030]
[Electronic Document]
Next, an electronic document will be described
which is stored in the electronic document storing unit
30 33 of the electronic document reading terminal 31, is
displayed on a display unit 101 (Fig. 4) of the
13
electronic document reading terminal 31, and is read by a
user. This electronic document is an electronic document
that is read, for example, from a paper-medium book by
the scanner 51 and is stored in the electronic document
5 storing unit 43.
[0031]
Fig. 2 is a diagram that illustrates an example of
the document 61. The document 61 illustrated in Fig. 2
is an example (an example of a page) of a document that
10 is a target to be linked in the description presented
below. A of Fig. 2 illustrates a book such as a
reference book, and B of Fig. 2 illustrates a music
booklet (liner notes) that is attached to a music CD or
the like. Referring to A of Fig. 2, for example, in a
15 book such as a reference book or the like, there is a
page on which a list of reference documents is written.
In addition, on the final page of a chapter or the like,
there is a case in which such reference documents are
written or the like. In a document illustrated in A of
20 Fig. 2, an example of such a page is represented, and,
below the description of “reference documents”, there are
descriptions of “[1] P.S. Drag “Manager” Dialing Co.,
2001” and “[2] P. Koto “Market Principle” Dialing Co.,
1995”.
25 [0032]
As above, in each document written as a reference
document or the like, information such as an author, a
title, a publisher name, and a publication year is
written. In other words, information relating to a
30 literary work is written. As will be described later, in
this embodiment, such information relating to a literary
14
work is detected, and a link is established.
[0033]
Referring to B of Fig. 2, for example, in liner
notes, information relating to recorded music that is
recorded in music CD in which the liner 5 notes are added
is written. The document illustrated in B of Fig. 2 is
an example of the page on which information relating to
recorded music is written, and a description of “recorded
music” is written in an upper part of the page. Below
10 the description, there are descriptions of “Track 1
“Piano Concerto No. 24 C minor” Mozart””, “Track 2
“Violin Concertos <>” Vivaldi”, and
“Track 3 “Violin Concerto D Major” Tchaikovsky”.
[0034]
15 As above, in a document written in liner notes or
the like, information such as the title of a music piece,
an artist name, a conductor name, and an orchestra name
is written. In other words, information relating to
literary works is written. As will be described later,
20 in this embodiment, such information relating to literary
works is detected, and a link is established.
[0035]
[Configuration of Database]
Next, the literary work database will be described.
25 For example, the server 21 is a site that sells literary
works such as electronic books by allowing them to be
downloaded. In such a case, in the literary work
database 22 of the server 21, information of literary
works such as electronic books (electronic documents)
30 that are targets to be sold is written. In other words,
in the literary work database 22 of the server 21,
15
information relating to literary works that are managed
by the server 21 is written and managed.
[0036]
Similarly, the literary work database 32 of the
electronic document reading device 5 31 manages the
information of electronic documents (literary works)
stored in the electronic document storing unit 33 inside
the electronic document reading device 31. In addition,
similarly, the literary work database 42 of the
10 information terminal 41 manages the information of
electronic documents (literary works) stored in the
electronic document storing unit 43 inside the
information terminal 41.
[0037]
15 As above, while the information managed by the
literary work database 22, the information managed by the
literary work database 32, and the information managed by
the literary work database 42 are different from one
another, the structures thereof are the same. Thus, here,
20 the literary work database 32 will be described as an
example. Fig. 3 is a diagram that illustrates an example
of the structure of the literary work database 32. The
structure of the literary work database 32 illustrated in
A of Fig. 3 illustrates a case where the literary works
25 are books. In addition, the structure of the literary
work database 32 illustrated in B of Fig. 3 illustrates a
case where the literary works are music pieces.
[0038]
In the literary work database 32 illustrated in A
30 of Fig. 3, items of an ID uniquely representing a
literary work, a title, an author, a publisher, an issued
16
year, and an ISBN are arranged, and information
corresponding to each item is written. For example, with
the ID of “1”, “Market Principle” is associated as the
title, “P. Koto” is associated as the author, “Dialing
Co.” is associated as the publisher, “5 1995” is associated
as the issued year, and “0123456789012” is associated as
the IDBN.
[0039]
Similarly, in the literary work database 32
10 illustrated in B of Fig. 3, which is a database relating
to music, items of an ID uniquely represents a literary
work, the title of a music piece, an artist, an album
title, a composer, a lyric writer, an arranger, and a
released year, and a JASRAC code are arranged, and
15 information corresponding to each item is written. For
example, with the ID of “3”, “Days Not Coming Again” is
associated as the title of a music piece, “Taro Kojima”
is associated as an artist, “Kojima Best” is associated
as the album title, “Kazuo Ota” is associated as a
20 composer, “Koji Kishikawa” is associated as a lyric
writer, “Takashi Yamakawa” is associated as an arranger,
“2011” is associated as a released year, and “0304059391”
is associated as a JASRAC code.
[0040]
25 As above, in the literary work database 32, items
corresponding to a literary work to be managed such as a
book or a music piece are arranged, information
corresponding to each item is written, and the
information is managed. Here, while a book and a music
30 piece have been described as an example, also for
information of the other literary works, for example, a
17
movie, a play, and a painting, it is apparent that items
corresponding to each literary work may be arranged and
managed.
[0041]
[Schematic Process Using Literary 5 Work Database]
The function of the electronic document reading
terminal 31 at the time of managing the literary work
database 32 as described above will be described. An
example of the screen when the document 61 as illustrated
10 in A of Fig. 2 is stored in the electronic document
storing unit 33 and is displayed in the electronic
document reading terminal 31 is illustrated in Fig. 4.
In this case, a case will be assumed in which a database
relating to the book illustrated in A of Fig. 3 is built
15 as the literary work database 32.
[0042]
Referring to the diagram illustrated on the left
side in Fig. 4, in the electronic document reading
terminal 31, a display unit 101 that displays an
20 electronic document and an operation unit 102, which is
operated when the operation of turning the pages of the
electronic document displayed on the display unit 101 is
performed, are arranged.
[0043]
25 On the display unit 101 illustrated in the diagram
represented on the left side in Fig. 4, one page of the
book illustrated in A of Fig. 2 is displayed. In
addition, on the display unit 101 illustrated in the
diagram represented on the left side in Fig. 4, “[1] P.S.
30 Drag “Manager” Dialing Co., 2001” (hereinafter, referred
to as a book [1] as is appropriate) and “[2] P. Koto
18
“Market Principle” Dialing Co., 1995” (hereinafter,
referred to as a book [2] as is appropriate) are
underlined. The underlines represents that a link is
established. By drawing an underline, a user can
recognize that there is a link. This 5 link is generated
as the information terminal 41 or the electronic document
reading terminal 31 performs a process to be described
later.
[0044]
10 On the display unit 101 illustrated in a diagram
represented on the left side in Fig. 4, a state is formed
in which the cursor is positioned on “[2] P. Koto “Market
Principle” Dialing Co., 1995”, which is displayed to be
discriminated from “[1] P.S. Drag “Manager” Dialing Co.,
15 2001”. In such a state, when an operation of selecting
and determining “book [2]” is performed, the display of
the display unit 101 is switched to the screen as
illustrated in a diagram represented on the right side in
Fig. 4.
20 [0045]
In this case, since “book [2]” is stored in the
electronic document storing unit 33, a state is formed in
which the link destination is the stored electronic
document. In a case where the selected literary work is
25 stored, the display of the display unit 101 is switched
to the stored literary work.
[0046]
On the other hand, in a case where the selected
literary work is not stored, the screen transits to a
30 screen as illustrated in Fig. 5. First, a diagram
represented on the left side in Fig. 5 will be referred
19
to. The diagram represented on the left side in Fig. 5
is the same as the diagram represented on the left side
in Fig. 4 except that the cursor is positioned on “[1]
P.S. Drag “Manager” Dialing Co., 2001”. In a case where
this “book [1]” is not stored in the electronic 5 document
reading terminal 31, when the link of the “book [1]” is
operated, the display of the display unit 101 is switched
to a screen as illustrated on the center of Fig. 5.
[0047]
10 In this case, since the “book [1]” is not stored in
the electronic document storing unit 33, the link
destination is set as a site for purchasing the book [1],
and a state is formed in which the screen for the
purchase is displayed on the display unit 101. As above,
15 in a case where the selected literary work is not stored,
an access to a destination for purchasing the literary
work is made, and the display of the display unit 101 is
switched to a screen for the purchase. In addition, a
link used for the transition of the screen in this way is
20 generated. In a case where such a screen is displayed,
and a button for the purchase is operated, the screen of
the display unit 101 is switched to a screen as
illustrated in the diagram represented on the right side
in Fig. 5.
25 [0048]
The screen as illustrated in the diagram
represented on the right side in Fig. 5 is a screen of
the cover of the book [1] that has been purchased. In
this way, when the purchase is made, data of the literary
30 work is downloaded and is stored in the electronic
document storing unit 33, and one page of the literary
20
work is displayed on the display unit 101.
[0049]
Also in the case of music, such a process may be
similarly performed. An example of the screen when the
document 61 as illustrated in B of Fig. 5 2 is stored in
the electronic document storing unit 33 and is displayed
in the electronic document reading terminal 31 is
illustrated in Fig. 6. In this case, the database
relating to music illustrated in Fig. 3B is assumed to be
10 built as the literary work database 22.
[0050]
On the display unit 101 illustrated in the diagram
represented on the left side in Fig. 6, one page of the
liner notes illustrated in B of Fig. 2 is displayed. On
15 the display unit 101 illustrated in the diagram
represented on the left side in Fig. 6, “Track 1 “Piano
Concerto No. 24 C minor” Mozart”” (hereinafter, referred
to as a “music piece [1]” as is appropriate), “Track 2
“Violin Concertos <>” Vivaldi”
20 (hereinafter, referred to as a “music piece [2]” as is
appropriate), and “Track 3 “Violin Concerto D Major”
Tchaikovsky” (hereinafter, referred to as a “music piece
[3]” as is appropriate) are underlined. The underlines
represent that links are established. A user can
25 recognize that there is a link by seeing the underline.
[0051]
On the display unit 101 illustrated in a diagram
represented on the left side in Fig. 6, a state is formed
in which the cursor is positioned on “Track 1 “Piano
30 Concerto No. 24 C minor” Mozart””, which is displayed to
be discriminated from the “music piece [2]” and the
21
“music piece [3]”. In such a state, when an operation of
selecting and determining the “music piece [1]” is
performed, the display of the display unit 101 is
switched to the screen as illustrated in a diagram
represented on the right 5 side in Fig. 6.
[0052]
In this case, since information of the “music piece
[1]” is stored in the electronic document storing unit 33,
a state is formed in which the link destination is the
10 electronic document of the stored information of the
music piece [1]. In addition, in a case where the
electronic document reading terminal 31 has a function of
outputting a sound by including a speaker or the like or
any other function, it may be configured such that music
15 data is stored, and a link is established.
[0053]
In a case where information relating to the
selected literary work is stored, the display of the
display unit 101 is switched to the stored information of
20 the music piece. In addition, in a case where a link is
established in music data, the music data is reproduced
and is provided for a user.
[0054]
On the other hand, in a case where the information
25 of the selected music piece is not stored, the screen
transits to a screen as illustrated in a diagram
represented in Fig. 7. First, a diagram illustrated on
the left side in Fig. 7 will be referred to. The diagram
represented on the left side in Fig. 7 is the same as the
30 diagram represented on the left side in Fig. 6 except
that the cursor is positioned on “Track 2 “Violin
22
Concertos <>” Vivaldi”. In a case
where this “book [2]” is not stored in the electronic
document reading terminal 31, the display of the display
unit 101 is switched to a screen as illustrated on the
5 center of Fig. 7.
[0055]
In this case, since the information (music data)
relating to the music piece [2] is not stored in the
electronic document storing unit 33, the link destination
10 is set as a site for purchasing the music piece [2], and
a state is formed in which the screen for the purchase is
displayed on the display unit 101. As above, in a case
where the selected music piece is not stored, an access
to a destination for purchasing the music piece is made,
15 and the display of the display unit 101 is switched to a
screen for the purchase. In a case where such a screen
is displayed, and a button for the purchase is operated,
the screen of the display unit 101 is switched to a
screen illustrated in a diagram represented on the right
20 side in Fig. 7.
[0056]
The screen as illustrated in the diagram
represented on the right side in Fig. 7 is a screen on
which the information relating to the purchased music
25 piece [2] is displayed. In this way, when the purchase
is made, the information of the music piece, the music
data, and the like are downloaded and are stored in the
electronic document storing unit 33, and the information
(a text, an image of the jacket, or the like) relating to
30 the music piece is displayed on the display unit 101.
[0057]
23
[Process of Generating Link]
Next, the process for generating a link in the
information of a literary work written inside the
electronic document will be described. A case will be
described as an example in which the electronic 5 document
reading terminal 31 performs the process for the
electronic document stored in the electronic document
storing unit 33 as a target. In addition, also in a case
where the information terminal 41 performs the process
10 for an electronic document stored in the electronic
document storing unit 43 as a target, basically, the
process may be similarly performed.
[0058]
In addition, when the processing capability of the
15 electronic document reading terminal 31 and the
processing capability of the information terminal 41 are
compared with each other, in a case where the processing
capability of the information terminal 41 is higher than
that of the electronic document reading terminal 31, the
20 information terminal 41 may be configured to perform the
process instead of the electronic document reading
terminal 31. For example, it may be configured such that
an electronic document stored in the electronic document
storing unit 33 of the electronic document reading
25 terminal 31 is acquired by the information terminal 41,
and the information terminal 41 performs the process for
the acquired electronic document.
[0059]
Furthermore, it may be configured such that the
30 process for generating a link to be described later is
performed by the information terminal 41, an electronic
24
document in which a link is embedded is generated, and
the electronic document in which the link is embedded is
supplied to the electronic document reading terminal 31
and is stored.
5 [0060]
By referring to a flowchart represented in Fig. 8,
the process of generating a link for an electronic
document stored in the electronic document storing unit
33 as a target using the electronic document reading
10 terminal 31 will be described. In Step S101, a literary
work searching process for the literary work database 32
disposed inside the electronic document reading terminal
31 is performed. By performing the process of this Step
S101, a sentence making reference to a literary work and
15 a literary work that is referred to from the sentence are
detected from the sentence of an electronic document that
is set as the processing target. The literary work
searching process of this Step S101 will be described
later with reference to a flowchart represented in Fig.
20 11, and, first, the description of the process of Step
S102 and subsequent steps will be continued.
[0061]
The process of Step S102 is performed by using a
result of the process of Step S101. In other words, in
25 Step S102, it is determined whether a sentence making
reference to a literary work included in the literary
work database 32 inside the electronic document reading
terminal 31 is found. Inside the literary work database
32, information of electronic documents stored in the
30 electronic document reading terminal 31 is written, and
it is determined whether or not a sentence matching the
25
information is detected from the inside of the electronic
document set as a processing target. In a case where the
sentence included in the electronic document set as the
processing target matches the information that is managed
by the literary work database 32, the sentence 5 is managed
as matching information and represents to make reference
to a literary work stored in the electronic document
storing unit 33.
[0062]
10 In Step S102, in a case where it is determined that
a sentence making reference to a literary work included
in the literary work database 32 disposed inside the
electronic document reading terminal 31 has been found,
the process proceeds to Step S103.
15 [0063]
In Step S103, a link to the literary work stored
inside the electronic document reading terminal 31 is
given to the sentence detected in the process of Step
S101. The link of this case, for example, is the link
20 that has been described with reference to Fig. 4. Here,
Fig. 4 will be referred to again. As illustrated in the
diagram represented on the left side in Fig. 4, “[1] P.S.
Drag “Manager” Dialing Co., 2001” and “[2] P. Koto
“Market Principle” Dialing Co., 1995” are underlined, and
25 these underlines represent that links are established.
[0064]
These “[1] P.S. Drag “Manager” Dialing Co., 2001”
and “[2] P. Koto “Market Principle” Dialing Co., 1995”
are sentences that are detected as “sentences making
30 reference to literary works” in Step S101 or Step S104
(to be described later). As described with reference to
26
Fig. 4, since the literary work “[2] P. Koto “Market
Principle” Dialing Co., 1995” is stored in the electronic
document reading terminal 31, “Yes” is determined in Step
S102, and the process proceeds to Step S103.
5 [0065]
In other words, the information “[2] P. Koto
“Market Principle” Dialing Co., 1995”, as described with
reference to Fig. 3, is managed by the literary work
database 32, the sentence of “[2] P. Koto “Market
10 Principle” Dialing Co., 1995” included in the electronic
document and the information managed by the literary work
database 32 match each other. Accordingly, it is
determined that a sentence making reference to the
literary work included in the literary work database 32
15 stored in the electronic document reading terminal 31 has
been found.
[0066]
Accordingly, in this case, a link is generated for
the electronic document “[2] P. Koto “Market Principle”
20 Dialing Co., 1995” that is stored in the electronic
document storing unit 33 of the electronic document
reading terminal 31. In this way, in a case where a
sentence making reference to a literary work is detected
from the electronic document, and a literary work
25 represented by the detected sentence is stored, a link
that is accessible to the stored literary work is
generated. In this way, when the link is generated, the
process proceeds to Step S108.
[0067]
30 In Step S108, it is determined whether there is a
next sentence. In a case where it is determined that
27
there is the next sentence in Step S108, the process of
Step S101 and subsequent steps is repeated for the
sentence determined to be present. On the other hand, in
a case where it is determined that there is no next
sentence in Step S108, the process of 5 the flowchart for
generating a link ends.
[0068]
In Step S102, in a case where it is determined that
a sentence making reference to a literary work included
10 in the literary work database 32 disposed inside the
electronic document reading terminal 31 has not been
found, the process proceeds to Step S104. In Step S104,
a literary work searching process is performed for the
literary work database 22 included in the server 21. By
15 performing the process of this Step S104, a sentence
making reference to a literary work and the literary work
are detected.
[0069]
The literary work searching process performed in
20 this Step S104 is the same as the literary work searching
process performed in Step S101 except that the database
that is a search destination is the literary work
database 22 of the server 21. Thus, the literary work
searching process performed in this step S104 will be
25 described later with reference to a flowchart represented
in Fig. 11, and, first, the description of the process of
Step S105 and subsequent steps will be continued.
[0070]
In Step S105, it is determined whether a sentence
30 making reference to a literary work included in the
literary work database 22 disposed inside the server 21
28
has been found. In Step S105, in a case where it is
determined that a sentence making reference to a literary
work included in the literary work database 22 disposed
inside the server 21 has been found, the process proceeds
5 to Step S106.
[0071]
In Step S106, the ID of the literary work is
acquired from the literary work database 22. Then, in
Step S107, a link making reference to the literary work
10 represented by the ID is given to the sentence that has
been detected in the process of Step S104. The link of
this case, for example, is a link described with
reference to Fig. 5. Here, Fig. 5 will be referred to
again. As illustrated in the diagram represented on the
15 left side in Fig. 5, “[1] P.S. Drag “Manager” Dialing Co.,
2001” and “[2] P. Koto “Market Principle” Dialing Co.,
1995” are underlined, and these underlines represent that
links are established.
[0072]
20 These “[1] P.S. Drag “Manager” Dialing Co., 2001”
and “[2] P. Koto “Market Principle” Dialing Co., 1995”
are sentences that are detected as “sentences making
reference to literary works” in Step S101 or Step S104.
As described with reference to Fig. 5, since the literary
25 work “[1] P.S. Drag “Manager” Dialing Co., 2001” is not
stored in the electronic document reading terminal 31,
“No” is determined in Step S102. Then, the process
proceeds to Step S105 through Step S104, and, in Step
S105, the literary work is determined to be managed by
30 the server 21, and the process proceeds to Steps S106 and
S107.
29
[0073]
Accordingly, in this case, since “[1] P.S. Drag
“Manager” Dialing Co., 2001” is managed by the server 21,
an ID assigned for the management thereof is acquired.
By using this ID, “[1] P.S. Drag “Manager” 5 Dialing Co.,
2001” that is managed by the server 21 can be accessed.
Here, the access, for example, represents an access to a
site providing a purchase screen as illustrated in the
diagram represented on the center in Fig. 5 or the like.
10 Then, a link for enabling such an access is generated and
is given to the detected sentence. In this manner, when
the link is generated, the process proceeds to Step S108.
[0074]
In Step S108, it is determined whether there is a
15 next sentence, and in a case where it is determined that
there is the next sentence, the process of Step S101 and
subsequent steps is repeated for the sentence determined
to be present. On the other hand, in a case where it is
determined that there is no next sentence in Step S108,
20 the process of the flowchart for generating a link ends.
[0075]
Here, an electronic document to which a link is
given by performing such a process will be further
described. Fig. 9 is a diagram that illustrates an
25 example of sentence data of an electronic document before
embedding a link therein and sentence data of the
electronic document after embedding the link therein.
The example illustrated in Fig. 9 is an example in which
the book illustrated in A of Fig. 2 is formed as an
30 electronic document and is set as the processing target
described above.
30
[0076]
Fig. 10 is a diagram that illustrates an example of
sentence data of an electronic document before a link is
embedded therein and sentence data of the electronic
document after the link is embedded therein. 5 The example
illustrated in Fig. 10 is an example in which the liner
notes illustrated in B of Fig. 2 are formed as an
electronic document and is set as the processing target
described above.
10 [0077]
As illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, sentence data
included in the electronic document, for example, is
described in the extensible markup language (XML) format.
Each one of A of Fig. 9 and A of Fig. 10 is sentence data
15 before embedding a link therein. Each one of B of Fig. 9
and B of Fig. 10 is sentence data after embedding a link
therein. In the figure, row numbers attached to the left
side are attached for the description.
[0078]
20 Referring to A of Fig. 9, the sentence data before
embedding a link therein is configured by data of a text
that is displayed on the display unit 101. Data written
between the first row “” and the m-th row “”
is handled as one page of the electronic document. Data
25 of the second row “reference
document” represents that a character string of
“reference document” starts to be displayed from the
position having an x coordinate of “50” and a y
coordinate of “29” and the size of the display has a
30 width (w) of “40” and a height (h) of “20”.
[0079]
31
In this way, the display start position and the
size are defined, and the character string to be
displayed is described as sentence data. The data
relating to a music piece illustrated in A of Fig. 10 has
a configuration similar thereto. When 5 a link is embedded
in such sentence data, sentence data as illustrated in B
of Fig. 9 is formed. Referring to B of Fig. 9, by
embedding a link, data is formed which is acquired by
adding
10 of the third row, of the sixth row, of the seventh row,
and of the tenth row to the sentence data
illustrated in A of Fig. 9 before the embedding of the
link.
15 [0080]
A portion that is surrounded by a link element from
of the
third row to of the sixth row is the range of a
sentence represented by an underline representing the
20 establishment of a link when being displayed by the
electronic document reading terminal 31. As examples of
the attribute of this link, there are type, db, and id.
The type represents the type of literary work of the link
destination, and, for example, document represents a
25 document, and music represents music. In addition, db
represents the URL of a database to be connected.
For example, localhost represents the electronic
document reading terminal 31, in other words, the
literary work database 32 arranged inside the electronic
30 document reading terminal 31. In addition, id is a
number that uniquely represents a literary work included
32
in the database represented by db.
[0081]
For example, of the third row represents
making reference to data having an ID of 5 “1” by accessing
a database (site) called “bookservice.com”. In addition,
of the
seventh row represents making reference to data having an
ID of “1” by accessing a database called “localhost”, in
10 other words, the literary work database 32 arranged
inside the electronic document reading terminal 31.
[0082]
In this way, the range in which the underline used
for representing the establishment of a link is
15 established, a database of a link destination, the ID of
data to be referred to, and the like are additionally
written inside the sentence data. The sentence data
relating to the music piece illustrated in B of Fig. 10
has a configuration similar thereto.
20 [0083]
[Literary Work Searching Process]
The literary work searching process that is
performed in Steps S101 and S104 of the flowchart
represented in Fig. 8 will be described with reference to
25 the flowchart represented in Fig. 11. As described above,
Steps S101 and S104 are basically the same process except
that the databases to be referred to are different from
each other. Thus, here, the process performed in Step
S101 will be described as an example.
30 [0084]
In Step S131, a document included in the electronic
33
document that is set as the processing target is cut out
into element units of the sentence. The element unit at
this time, for example, may be units of newlines.
Alternatively, the document may be cut out into parts
having a predetermined number of characters. 5 In Step
S132, the degree of similarity between the cut sentence
and the information of a literary work included in the
literary work database 32 is calculated for the
information of all the literary works stored in the
10 literary work database 32. Then, a literary work having
a highest degree of similarity is detected.
[0085]
For example, words included in a sentence that is
set as the processing target and the information such as
15 the title, the title of the music piece, and a publisher
described with reference to Fig. 3, which is included in
the literary work database 32, are compared with each
other, and the degree of similarity is calculated based
on the degree of matching the words included in the
20 literary work database 32 or the degree of presence of
words not matching the words included in the literary
work database 32.
[0086]
In Step S133, it is determined whether a sentence
25 combination is repeated for X times or more. Here, since
the sentence combination is performed in the process of
Step S134 on the later stage, first, the process of Step
S134 will be described. In Step S134, a sentence
acquired by combining the sentence that is set as the
30 processing target at that time point with the previous
sentence is generated, and the degree of similarity is
34
calculated again for the combined sentence. Then, a
literary work having a highest degree of similarity is
detected.
[0087]
Such combining the sentence set 5 as the processing
target with the next sentence is called as a sentence
combination. It is determined whether this sentence
combination is repeated for X times, which is set in
advance, or more in Step S133. In Step S133, in a case
10 where it is determined that the sentence combination has
not been repeated X or more times, the process proceeds
to Step S134, and, as described above, the sentence
combination is performed, and the degree of similarity is
calculated.
15 [0088]
Then, in Step S135, a highest degree of similarity
before the combination and a highest degree of similarity
after the combination are compared with each other, and
it is determined whether the degree of similarity after
20 the combination is higher than that before the
combination. In Step S135, in a case where the degree of
similarity after the combination is determined to be
higher than the degree of similarity before the
combination, the process is returned to Step S133, and
25 the process of subsequent steps are repeated. In other
words, the process of further combining sentences, and
calculating the degree of similarity, and comparing the
degrees of similarity with each other is repeated.
[0089]
30 For example, in a case where an author name is
included in the sentence before the sentence combination,
35
and a work name is additionally included in the sentence
after the sentence combination, it is determined that the
degree of similarity after the combination is higher than
the degree of similarity before the combination. In this
way, as new information is included 5 by combining
sentences together, the degree of similarity may be
considered to become higher. However, even when a new
sentence is combined, in a case where new information is
not included in the combined sentence, the similarity
10 after the combination is not higher than the degree of
similarity before the combination.
[0090]
Accordingly, while the degree of similarity after
the combination is determined to be higher than the
15 degree of similarity before the combination, a next
sentence that may include new information is combined,
and the combining of sentences is stopped at a time point
when the degree of similarity after the combination is
not determined to be higher than the degree of similarity
20 before the combination.
[0091]
In Step S135, in a case where the degree of
similarity after the combination is not determined to be
higher than the degree of similarity before the
25 combination, the process proceeds to Step S136, and the
sentence prior to the sentence combination is regarded as
a candidate.
[0092]
In this way, when the sentence that becomes the
30 candidate is determined, the process proceeds to Step
S138. In the process of Step S138, it is determined that
36
the sentence combination has been repeated X times or
more in Step S133, and the process of Step S137 may go
through. In Step S137, the first sentence before the
combination, which has been used in the process of Step
S132, is regarded 5 as a candidate.
[0093]
In this way, when the candidate is determined, the
process of Step S138 is performed for the sentence set as
the candidate. In Step S138, it is determined whether a
10 highest degree of similarity calculated using the
sentence set as the candidate exceeds a predetermined
threshold. In Step S138, in a case where the highest
degree of similarity calculated by using the sentence set
as the candidate is determined to exceed the
15 predetermined threshold, the process proceeds to Step
S139.
[0094]
In Step S139, the title of the literary work
database 22 having the highest similarity with the
20 sentence set as the candidate is output to the process of
the later stage as a search result. In other words, a
sentence that is set as the candidate is regarded as a
“sentence making reference to the literary work”, and the
title included in the literary work database 22 is
25 treated as a detected literary work.
[0095]
On the other hand, in Step S138, in a case where
the highest degree of similarity calculated by using the
sentence set as the candidate is determined not to exceed
30 the predetermined threshold, the process proceeds to Step
S140. In other words, there is a high possibility that
37
the sentence set as the candidate is not a “sentence
making reference to the literary work”, and it is
determined that there is no search result, and the
process of the later stage is performed.
5 [0096]
In this way, a sentence making reference to the
literary work and a literary work to which the sentence
makes reference are detected from the electronic document.
In a case where such a process is performed in Step S101,
10 the process is performed with the literary work database
32 of the electronic document reading terminal 31 being
regarded as the database of the search destination.
Accordingly, the process performed in Step S101 is a
process that is used for determining whether the literary
15 work is a literary work stored in the terminal.
[0097]
On the other hand, in Step S104, in a case where
such a process is performed, the process is performed
with the literary work database 21 of the server 21 being
20 regarded as the database of the search destination.
Accordingly, the process performed in Step S104 is a
process used for determining whether the literary work is
a literary work managed by the other device. In this way,
in this embodiment, whether the literary work is a
25 literary work managed by the terminal or a literary work
managed by the other device is determined by referring to
the other database.
[0098]
[Process of Display of Electronic Document]
30 Next, the process performed when the electronic
document is displayed on the display unit 101 of the
38
electronic document reading terminal 31 will be described
with reference to a flowchart represented in Fig. 12. In
Step S161, the selected page is display at a
magnification designated by the user. Then, in Step S162,
it is determined whether or not a link 5 is present within
the display range. For example, in a case where a
sentence of sentence data in which a link is not embedded,
as illustrated in A of Fig. 9, is set as the target for
the display, in Step S162, it is determined that any link
10 is not present within the display range, and the process
of the flowchart represented in Fig. 12 ends.
[0099]
On the other hand, in a case where a sentence of
sentence data in which a link is embedded as illustrated
15 in B of Fig. 9 is set as the target for the display, in
Step S162, it is determined that a link is present within
the display range, and the process proceeds to Step S163.
In Step S163, the display is performed with the sentence
included in the link being underlined. The range in
20 which the underline is drawn and the like, as described
with reference to B of Fig. 9, corresponds to data
interposed between link elements.
[0100]
In this way, for example, the screen as illustrated
25 in the diagram represented on the left side in Fig. 4 is
displayed on the display unit 101. In the sentence
inside the screen displayed on the display unit 101
illustrated in the diagram represented on the left side
in Fig. 4, a link is established. Next, the process
30 performed when a sentence in which such a link is
established is selected by a user will be described.
39
[0101]
[Process Performed When Link Is Selected]
Fig. 13 is a flowchart that illustrates a process
performed when a link is established in a displayed
sentence, and the link is selected. In 5 Step S191, it is
determined whether or not the link is selected by the
user. In Step S191, until it is determined that the link
is selected, the process performed when the link is
selected is in a waiting state. In a case where it is
10 determined that the link has been selected, the process
performed when the link is selected starts.
[0102]
In Step S192, it is determined whether or not the
link destination of the selected link is inside the
15 electronic document reading terminal 31. The
determination whether the link destination of the
selected link is inside the electronic document reading
terminal 31 is performed by referring to the sentence
data to be processed. For example, in a case where
20 sentence data as illustrated in B of Fig. 9 is processed,
when the link is selected, in a case where the link
information is written in the third row, it can be known that
the link destination is a database of the other device
25 connected to the network 11 based on the information of
db=“bookservice.com”.
[0103]
Similarly, in a case where the link information is
of the
30 seventh row, it can be known that that the link
destination is a database disposed inside the electronic
40
document reading terminal 31 based on the information of
db=“localhost”.
[0104]
In this way, by referring to the information of the
link destination included in the sentence 5 data, in Step
S192, in a case where the link destination of the
selected link is disposed inside the electronic document
reading terminal 31, the process proceeds to Step S193.
In Step S193, data of the literary work is read from the
10 electronic document storing unit 33 by referring to
corresponding data included in the literary work database
32 disposed inside the electronic document reading
terminal 31 that is set as the link destination. Then,
the screen that is based on the data of the literary work
15 that has been read is displayed on the display unit 101
(Step S199).
[0105]
Such a flow is a case as described with reference
to Fig. 4. Referring to Fig. 4 again, when the screen
20 illustrated on the diagram represented on the right side
in Fig. 4 is displayed on the display unit 101, in a case
where “[2] P. Koto “Market Principle” Dialing Co., 1995”
is selected, the link destination of this literary work
is the literary work database 32 included in the
25 electronic document reading terminal 31, the process
proceeds to Step S193. Then, by performing the process
of Steps S193 and S199, the display of the display unit
101 is switched to the screen like the figure represented
on the right side in Fig. 4, and the literary work
30 selected by the user is provided for the user.
[0106]
41
On the other hand, in Step S192, in a case where
the link destination of the selected link is determined
not to be disposed inside the electronic document reading
terminal 31, the process proceeds to Step S194. In Step
S194, for the literary work database on 5 the URL included
in the information of the link that is included in the
sentence data, an inquiry is made using an ID included in
the same information of the link.
[0107]
10 For example, when sentence data as illustrated in B
of Fig. 9 is processed, in a case where the information
of the selected link is written in the third row, an
inquiry for data of id=“1” is made for the literary work
15 database of the server that is db=“bookservice.com”.
[0108]
As a result of this inquiry, it is determined
whether the literary work is a literary work required to
be purchased in Step S195. In Step S195, in a case where
20 a literary work required to be purchased is determined,
the process proceeds to the process of Step S196. In
Step S196, the purchase process is performed. As this
purchase process, although the flow of the process up to
the purchase may differ depending on the site of the
25 connection destination, the basic process is the same.
For example, a purchase screen that includes a purchase
amount, the image of the cover, and the like, as
illustrated in the figure represented on the center in
Fig. 5, and includes buttons used for determining whether
30 to make a purchase is displayed on the display unit 101.
[0109]
42
Then, a button “purchase” or a button “cancel” is
operated. In Step S197, it is determined whether or not
the literary work has been purchased. In a case where
the button “purchase” is operated, in Step S197, it is
determined that the purchase has 5 been made, and the
process proceeds to Step S198. On the other hand, in a
case where the button “cancel” is operated, in Step S197,
it is determined that the purchase has not been made, and
the process proceeds to Step S198.
10 [0110]
In a case where the button “purchase” is operated,
the server (here, the server 21) of the connection
destination performs an accounting process and the like
by using customer data managed by the customer database
15 23 and the like and supplies data of the purchased
literary work to the electronic document reading terminal
31. The electronic document reading terminal 31 stores
the supplied data of the literary work in the electronic
document storing unit 33 and adds information of the
20 purchased literary work to the literary work database 22.
[0111]
In this way, in a case where the data of the
purchased literary work is stored in the electronic
document storing unit 33, in Step S198, the data of the
25 literary work that is stored in the electronic document
storing unit 33 is acquired, and a screen that is based
on the acquired data of the literary work is displayed on
the display unit 101 (Step S199). For example, as
illustrated in the diagram represented on the right side
30 in Fig. 5, the cover of the purchased literary work is
displayed on the display unit 101.
43
[0112]
On the other hand, in Step S195, in a case where a
literary work not required to be purchased is determined,
while the purchase is not required, the literary work is
stored in the other device (server 21). 5 Accordingly, in
Step S198, an access to the server 21 is made, and data
of the corresponding literary work is downloaded and is
stored in the electronic document storing unit 33. In
the subsequent process, as described above, in Step S199,
10 a screen that is based on the downloaded data of the
literary work is displayed on the display unit 101.
[0113]
On the other hand, in Step S197, in a case where it
is determined that the literary work has not been
15 purchased, the process performed when the link is
selected, which is illustrated in Fig. 13, ends. In this
case, for example, when the screen as illustrated in the
diagram represented on the center in Fig. 5 is displayed
on the display unit 101, the button “cancel” is operated,
20 and accordingly, for example, the display of the display
unit 101 is switched to the screen illustrated in the
diagram represented on the left side in Fig. 5, in other
words, the screen before the switching to the purchase
screen.
25 [0114]
In this way, when the link is operated, an access
to the link destination is made, and the literary work is
displayed or, a purchase thereof is made.
[0115]
30 In the document 61 captured by the scanner 51 or
the like, generally, information of a link or the like is
44
not present. However, as described above, by applying
the present technology, a link can be generated for an
electronic document that does not include a link. In
addition, a link for accessing the data of a literary
work stored in the terminal or a link 5 for accessing the
data of a literary work stored in the other device can be
generated.
[0116]
[Generation of Other Link]
10 As illustrated in A of Fig. 2, as one page of a
book, while there is a page on which reference documents
are listed, other than such a page, there is a case where
a number is attached to a reference document, and the
number is written in the text. An example of such a page
15 is illustrated in Fig. 14.
[0117]
A predetermined page of a book that is illustrated
in the diagram represented on the left side of Fig. 14 is
a page of the text in the book, and a predetermined page
20 of a book that is illustrated in the diagram represented
on the right side of Fig. 14 is a page of reference
documents that are referred to from the text. When
reference documents are written in the text, there are
difficulty in reading the text and the like. Accordingly,
25 as illustrated in the diagram represented on the left
side in Fig. 14, there is a case where only reference
numbers are written. Referring to the diagram
represented on the left side of Fig. 14, in the
description of “is described ([1])” of the 13th page,
30 “[1]” represents “[1] P.S. Drag “Manager” Dialing Co.,
2001” that is cited using the same number in the
45
reference document list of the 56th page illustrated in
the diagram represented on the right side in Fig. 14.
[0118]
Similarly, referring to the diagram represented on
the left side of Fig. 14, in the description 5 of “own idea
is developed ([2])” of the 13th page, “[2]” represents
“[2] P. Koto “Market Principle” Dialing Co., 1995” that
is cited using the same number in the reference document
list of the 56th page illustrated in the diagram
10 represented on the right side in Fig. 14.
[0119]
In the case of a paper-medium book, for example,
when the text of the 13th page is read, in a case where a
reference document that is cited by a number [1] is
15 desired to be known, it is necessary to turn the page to
the 56th page and to read the description of the
reference document written on the 56th page. In addition,
after the reference document is recognized, in a case
where the reference document is desired to be read, it is
20 necessary to find out the reference document, for example,
from a bookshelf.
[0120]
Such an operation is inconvenient for the user.
Thus, an electronic document is configured such that a
25 reference document can be read without performing such an
inconvenient process. When described with reference to
Fig. 15, a diagram represented on the left side in Fig.
15 illustrates an example in which a page of a book
illustrated on the left side in Fig. 14 is displayed on
30 the display unit 101 of the electronic document reading
terminal 31 as an electronic document. In a sentence
46
displayed on the display unit 101 that is illustrated in
the diagram represented on the left side in Fig. 15, when
“is described ([1])” is checked, [1] is underlined in the
description. In other words, a link is established in
5 [1].
[0121]
Similarly, a number [2] is displayed to be
underlined, and it is illustrated that a link is
established. When the user selects [1], as illustrated
10 in the diagram represented on the right side in Fig. 15,
the display of the display unit 101 is switched to a
display of a reference document (literary work) to which
the number [1] is assigned. In this way, the user can
read a reference document that is the literary work of
15 the link destination by only selecting the number that is
assigned to the reference document.
[0122]
In this way, by assigning a unique number to a
reference document inside the document, analyzing a
20 connection inside the document in a case where the number
is referred to from the inside of the document, and
reflecting the result thereof on the electronic document,
it is possible to present the document of the reference
destination when a reference number inside the document
25 is selected in the electronic document reading terminal
31 as illustrated in Fig. 15.
[0123]
The process performed when a link is generated for
such a reference number will be described with reference
30 to a flowchart represented in Fig. 16. In order to
generate a link for such a reference number, in addition
47
to detecting the reference number, it is necessary to
detect a literary work that is referred to by the
reference number and detect whether the detected literary
work is stored in the electronic document reading
terminal 31 or the other device. The 5 process of the
latter half for detecting the literary work and detecting
whether the detected literary work is stored in the
electronic document reading terminal 31 or the other
device is performed the same as in the above-described
10 case.
[0124]
In other words, referring to the flowchart
represented in Fig. 16, the process of Steps S221 to S228
is performed the same as the process of Steps S101 to
15 S108 of the flowchart represented in Fig. 8, a sentence
making reference to the literary work is detected inside
the electronic document, and a link for accessing the
sentence is generated. Then, a link from the reference
number is established for the link destination of the
20 generated link or the sentence making reference thereto.
In other words, a link is generated for the reference
number and the “sentence making reference to the literary
work” inside the electronic document that is referred to
by the reference number, or a link for accessing the
25 literary work is generated from the reference number.
[0125]
Such a process is performed as an intra-document
link detecting process in Step S229. The intra-document
link detecting process of Step S229 will be described
30 with reference to a flowchart represented in Fig. 17.
[0126]
48
In Step S241, for the “sentence making reference to
the literary work” in which a link is established in the
process of Step S223 or Step S227 as a target, it is
determined whether a character representing an intradocument
reference is present at the head 5 of the sentence.
Here, the character representing an intra-document
reference, for example, is [1], *1, #1, or the like. For
example, as illustrated in the diagram represented on the
right side in Fig. 14, in a head portion of the sentence
10 making reference to a literary work, a reference number
such as [1], *1, or #1 is written. In Step S241, it is
determined whether such a reference number is present in
the head portion of the “sentence making reference to the
literary work”.
15 [0127]
In Step S241, in a case where it is determined that
the character representing the intra-document reference
is not present in the head portion of the sentence making
reference to the literary work, the sentence is a
20 sentence other than the target of the intra-document link
detecting process, and accordingly, the process of the
flowchart represented in Fig. 17 ends. On the other hand,
in Step S241, in a case where it is determined that the
character representing the intra-document reference is
25 present in the head portion of the sentence making
reference to the literary work, the process proceeds to
the process of Step S242.
[0128]
In Step S242, it is determined whether the
30 character representing the reference is present inside
another sentence inside the electronic document through a
49
search. For example, in a case where it is determined
that the character representing a reference, which is
“[1]”, is present in Step S241, the character string
“[1]” is detected from the electronic document. As a
result of the search process performed 5 in Step S242, it
is determined whether the character representing the
reference has been detected from the electronic document
in Step S243.
[0129]
10 In Step S243, in a case where it is determined that
the character representing the intra-document reference
is not present inside the electronic document, the
process of the flowchart represented in Fig. 17 ends. On
the other hand, in Step S243, in a case where it is
15 determined that the character representing the intradocument
reference is present inside the electronic
document, the process proceeds to Step S244. In Step
S244, a link is embedded in the character that represents
the intra-document reference. In other words, for the
20 sentence in which the character representing the intradocument
reference is determined to be present, the link
given in the process of Step S223 or Step S227 is given
to the character representing the intra-document
reference inside the sentence.
25 [0130]
For example, referring to the diagram represented
on the right side in Fig. 14, “[1]” is present as the
character representing the intra-document reference on
the 56th page. This “[1]” is detected in Step S241.
30 Then, in the process of Steps S242 and 243, a sentence
“is described in [1]” on the 13th page illustrated in the
50
diagram represented on the left side in Fig. 14 is found,
and the character representing the intra-document
reference, which is “[1]”, that is the processing target
is detected from this sentence.
5 [0131]
The link given to the “[1] P.S. Drag “Manager”
Dialing Co., 2001” of the 56th page is given to “1”
inside the sentence of “is described in [1]” detected in
this way. By giving such a link, as described with
10 reference to Fig. 15, a user can read a literary work
that is referred to by the reference number “[1]” by only
operating a predetermined operation such as clicking on
the reference number “[1]”.
[0132]
15 In this way, a link can be generated for the inside
of the document, and accordingly, the usability of the
electronic document can be improved.
[0133]
According to the present technology, when an
20 electronic document acquired by being read by the scanner
51 or the like is read, a literary work that is referred
to thereby can be read seamlessly by the user. Therefore,
the user’s convenience can be improved. In addition, the
link destination can be used also as a purchase site of
25 literary works. Thus, even in the case of an electronic
document that is formed for the purpose of a private use,
the link destination can lead to the purchase of digital
literary works. In addition, since links between books
that have been scanned by the user can be automatically
30 generated, the user does not need to manage the relation
thereof, whereby the efforts of the user can be reduced.
51
[0134]
[Update Process]
While links are generated in documents of the
inside of the electronic document as described above, the
database needs to be updated at a time 5 when new literary
works are added to the literary work databases 22, 32,
and 42 (Fig. 1) that are referred to at the time of
generating the links or the like. Next, a case will be
additionally described in which the database is updated
10 in accordance with the addition of a new literary work
thereto or the like.
[0135]
Fig. 18 is a flowchart that illustrates a process
performed when the literary work database 32 managed by
15 the electronic document reading terminal 31 is updated.
Here, while the description of the process performed when
the literary work database 32 is updated will be
continued, an update process can be performed in the same
manner also when the literary work database 42 of the
20 information terminal 41 is updated. In addition, it may
be configured such that the server 21 acquires the
literary work database 32 of the electronic document
reading terminal 31 or the literary work database 42 of
the information terminal 41, and the update process is
25 performed by the server 21.
[0136]
In Step S261, a provisional literary work database
that includes only a portion corresponding to the update
is generated. The portion corresponding to the update,
30 for example, is a portion corresponding to an electronic
document that is newly purchased and is stored in the
52
electronic document storing unit 33 of the electronic
document reading terminal 31, an electronic document that
is scanned by the scanner 51 and is formed as the
electronic document, and the like.
5 [0137]
In Step S262, one electronic document out of a
plurality of electronic documents stored in the
electronic document storing unit 33 is set as a
processing target electronic document. Then, for the set
10 electronic document, the process of Step S263 is
performed. In Step S263, a literary work searching
process for the provisional literary work database is
performed. The literary work searching process for this
provisional literary work database is performed based on
15 the process of a flowchart of the literary work searching
process illustrated in Fig. 11.
[0138]
In other words, in the description presented above
with reference to the flowchart represented in Fig. 11,
20 while a case has been presented in which the process is
performed for the literary work database 32, here, the
only difference is that the process is performed for the
provisional literary work database, and the basic process
is performed in the same manner as that of the above25
described case. Thus, since the description is the same,
here, duplicate description thereof will not be presented.
Since the process of Steps S263 to S266 is the same as
the process of Steps S101 to S103 and S108 represented in
Fig. 8, here, detailed description thereof will not be
30 presented.
[0139]
53
While links are generated in advance in the
electronic document that is set as the processing target,
any link is not generated for the electronic document
that is newly added to the electronic document reading
terminal 31, in other words, the electronic 5 document
managed by the provisional literary work database. By
performing this process, a link is established (the link
destination is changed) for the electronic book that has
been newly added.
10 [0140]
In Step S267, it is determined whether there is a
next electronic document in the electronic document
storing unit 33. In a case where there is the next
electronic document, the process is retuned to Step S262,
15 the next electronic document is set as the processing
target, and subsequent processes thereof are repeated.
On the other hand, in Step S267, in a case where it is
determined that the next electronic document is not
present in the electronic document storing unit 33, the
20 update process ends.
[0141]
Such an update process may be configured to be
performed when an electronic document is added, to be
performed when a plurality of electronic documents is
25 added, or to be performed regularly at predetermined time
intervals.
[0142]
Next, a process performed when the literary work
database 22 of the server 21 is updated will be described
30 with reference to the flowchart represented in Fig. 19.
The update process is performed by the server 21, for
54
example, at a time when a literary work to be sold to a
user is added or the like.
[0143]
A case will be described as an example in which the
server 21 manages the information relating 5 to electronic
books managed, for example, for the purpose of sales or
the like by the literary work database 22 and manages the
information relating to electronic books managed by the
literary work database 32 of the electronic document
10 reading terminal 31 as well. Accordingly, in a case
where a literary work is added to the server 21, there
are an update process performed for the electronic books
stored in the server 21 and an update process performed
for electronic documents formed as the electronic
15 documents through scanning or the like on the user side.
[0144]
First, in Step S281, a provisional literary work
database including only a portion corresponding to the
update is generated. Then, for the provisional literary
20 work database, the process of Step S282 and subsequent
steps is performed.
[0145]
Through the process of Steps S282 to S287, the
update process for electronic documents formed as the
25 electronic documents through scanning or the like on the
user side is performed. This process is performed in the
same manner as the process of the flowchart represented
in Fig. 18. In other words, while the process of the
flowchart represented in Fig. 18 has been described to be
30 performed by the electronic document reading terminal 31,
the process of Steps S282 to S287 is performed by the
55
side of the server 21, which is different from the abovedescribed
process. By performing the process of Steps
S282 to S287, for the electronic document that has been
newly added to the server 21 side, a link from the
electronic book managed by the side 5 of the electronic
document reading terminal 31 is newly generated.
[0146]
The process of Steps S288 to S293 is a process for
generating a link for the newly added literary work for
10 the electronic documents managed by the server 21. In
this process, the processing targets are the electronic
documents managed by the server 21, this process is
basically performed in the same manner as that of the
above-described except that the process is performed for
15 the provisional literary work database, and thus, the
description thereof will not be presented.
[0147]
In this way, by performing the update process, a
link can be generated also for the newly added electronic
20 document, and accordingly, the user’s convenience can be
improved.
[0148]
[Recording Medium]
A series of the processes described above may be
25 performed either by hardware or software. In a case
where the series of the processes is performed by
software, a program configuring the software is installed
to a computer. Here, examples of the computer include a
computer that is built in dedicated hardware and a
30 computer such as a general-purpose personal computer that
can perform various functions by installing various
56
programs.
[0149]
Fig. 20 is a block diagram that illustrates an
example of the configuration of the hardware of a
computer performing the series of processes 5 described
above by using a program. The server 21, the electronic
document reading terminal 31, and the information
terminal 41 described above may basically have the same
configuration as that of the computer illustrated in Fig.
10 20.
[0150]
In the computer, a central processing unit (CPU)
1001, read only memory (ROM) 1002, and random access
memory (RAM) 1003 are interconnected through a bus 1004.
15 In addition, an input/output interface 1005 is connected
to the bus 1004. An input unit 1006, an output unit 1007,
a storing unit 1008, a communication unit 1009, and a
drive 1010 are connected to the input/output interface
1005.
20 [0151]
The input unit 1006 is configured by a keyboard, a
mouse, a microphone, and the like. The output unit 1007
is configured by a display, a speaker, and the like. The
storing unit 1008 is configured by a hard disk, non25
volatile memory, and the like. The communication unit
1009 is configured by a network interface and the like.
The drive 1010 drives a removable medium 1011 such as a
magnetic disk, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disk,
or a semiconductor memory.
30 [0152]
In the computer configured as above, the CPU 1001,
57
for example, loads a program stored in the storing unit
1008 into the RAM 1003 through the input/output interface
1005 and the bus 1004 and executes the program, thereby
performing the above-described series of processes.
5 [0153]
The program executed by the computer (CPU 1001),
for example, may be provided by being recorded on a
removable medium 1011 as a package medium or the like.
In addition, the program may be provided through a wired
10 or wireless transmission medium such as a local area
network, the Internet, or a digital satellite broadcast.
[0154]
In the computer, by loading a removable medium 1011
into the drive 1010, the program may be installed to the
15 storing unit 1008 through the input/output interface 1005.
In addition, the program may be received by the
communication unit 1009 through the wired or wireless
transmission medium and be installed to the storing unit
1008. Alternatively, the program may be installed to the
20 ROM 1002 or the storing unit 1008 in advance.
[0155]
For example, in a case where the process of the
flowchart represented in Fig. 8 is performed by the
electronic document reading terminal 31 and in a case
25 where the electronic document reading terminal 31 has the
configuration illustrated in Fig. 20, the program may be
implemented as a program that is executed by the CPU 1001.
[0156]
The program executed by the computer may be a
30 program that performs the process in a time series in
accordance with the sequence described in this
58
specification or a program that performs the process in a
parallel manner or at necessary timing such as timing
when being called.
[0157]
In this specification, a system 5 represents the
whole apparatus that is configured by a plurality of
apparatuses.
[0158]
Embodiments of the present technology are not
10 limited to the above-described embodiments, and various
changes may be made therein in the range not departing
from the concept of the present technology.
[0159]
In addition, the present technology may have the
15 configuration as described below.
[0160]
(1)
There is provided an information processing
apparatus including: a storing unit that stores
20 information of an electronic document; an extraction unit
that extracts a sentence including the information stored
in the storing unit from a predetermined electronic
document; and a generation unit that generates a link to
the information stored in the storing unit from the
25 sentence extracted by the extraction unit.
(2)
There is provided the information processing
apparatus described in (1) described above, in which the
storing unit includes a first storing unit in which the
30 information of the electronic document stored in the same
terminal is stored and a second storing unit in which the
59
information of the electronic document stored in the
other terminal is stored, and the extraction unit
extracts a sentence including the information stored in
the first storing unit from a predetermined electronic
document and extracts a sentence 5 including the
information stored in the second storing unit from a
predetermined electronic document.
(3)
There is provided the information processing
10 apparatus described in (1) or (2) described above, in
which the electronic document is acquired by digitizing a
document that is printed on a paper medium.
(4)
There is provided the information processing
15 apparatus described in any of (1) to (3) described above,
in which the extraction unit calculates a first degree of
similarity between a predetermined sentence included
inside the electronic document and the information stored
in the storing unit, the extraction unit calculates a
20 second degree of similarity between a sentence acquired
by combining the predetermined sentence and a sentence
next to the predetermined sentence and the information
stored in the storing unit, the extraction unit
repeatedly performs the combining of sentences and the
25 calculating of the degree of similarity until the second
degree of similarity is determined to be higher than the
first degree of similarity, and the extraction unit sets
the sentence before the combination as an extraction
result when the second degree of similarity is determined
30 to be lower than the first degree of similarity.
(5)
60
There is provided the information processing
apparatus described in any of (1) to (4) described above,
in which the extraction unit further extracts a number
making reference to the extracted sentence from the
predetermined electronic document, 5 and the generation
unit gives a link generated for the sentence that is
referred to by the number to the number extracted by the
extraction unit.
(6)
10 There is provided the information processing
apparatus described in any of (1) to (5) described above,
in which an update process is performed by extracting a
sentence including updated information from the
predetermined electronic document in a case where storing
15 unit is updated.
(7)
There is provided an information processing method
using an information processing apparatus equipped with a
storing unit that stores information of an electronic
20 document. The information processing method includes:
extracting a sentence including the information stored in
the storing unit from a predetermined electronic
document; and generating a link to the information stored
in the storing unit from the extracted sentence.
25 (8)
There is provided a computer-readable program
causing a computer that controls an information
processing apparatus equipped with a storing unit storing
information of an electronic document to perform:
30 extracting a sentence including the information stored in
the storing unit from a predetermined electronic
61
document; and generating a link to the information stored
in the storing unit from the extracted sentence.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
5 [0161]
11 Network
21 Server
22 Literary Work database
23 Customer database
10 31 Electronic document reading terminal
32 Literary Work database
33 Electronic document storing unit
41 Information terminal
42 Literary Work database
15 43 Electronic document storing unit
51 Scanner
61 Document
62
We CLAIM
1. An information processing apparatus comprising:
a storing unit that stores information of an
electronic 5 document;
an extraction unit that extracts a sentence
including the information stored in the storing unit from
a predetermined electronic document; and
a generation unit that generates a link to the
information stored in the storing unit from the sentence
extracted by the extraction unit.
2. The information processing apparatus according to
claim 1,
wherein the storing unit includes a first storing
unit in which the information of the electronic document
stored in the same terminal is stored and a second
storing unit in which the information of the electronic
document stored in the other terminal is stored, and
the extraction unit extracts a sentence including
the information stored in the first storing unit from a
predetermined electronic document and extracts a sentence
including the information stored in the second storing
unit from a predetermined electronic document.
3. The information processing apparatus according to
claim 1, wherein the electronic document is acquired by
digitizing a document that is printed on a paper medium.
30 4. The information processing apparatus according to
claim 1,
63
wherein the extraction unit calculates a first
degree of similarity between a predetermined sentence
included inside the electronic document and the
information stored in the storing unit,
calculates a second degree of similarity 5 between a
sentence acquired by combining the predetermined sentence
and a sentence next to the predetermined sentence and the
information stored in the storing unit,
repeatedly performs the combining of sentences and
the calculating of the degree of similarity until the
second degree of similarity is determined to be higher
than the first degree of similarity, and
sets the sentence before the combination as an
extraction result when the second degree of similarity is
determined to be lower than the first degree of
similarity.
5. The information processing apparatus according to
claim 1,
wherein the extraction unit further extracts a
number making reference to the extracted sentence from
the predetermined electronic document, and
the generation unit gives the link generated for
the sentence that is referred to by the number to the
number extracted by the extraction unit.
6. The information processing apparatus according to
claim 1, wherein an update process is performed by
extracting a sentence including updated information from
the predetermined electronic document in a case where
storing unit is updated.
64
7. An information processing method using an
information processing apparatus equipped with a storing
unit that stores information of an electronic document,
the information processing 5 method comprising:
extracting a sentence including the information
stored in the storing unit from a predetermined
electronic document; and
generating a link to the information stored in the
10 storing unit from the extracted sentence.
8. A computer-readable program causing a computer that
controls an information processing apparatus equipped
with a storing unit storing information of an electronic
document to perform:
extracting a sentence including the information
stored in the storing unit from a predetermined
electronic document; and
generating a link to the information stored in the
storing unit from the extracted sentence.